Congress keynote

The keynote address at the XVII North American Zoroastrian Congress to be held in Los Angeles (LA) from December 29-31, 2014 will be delivered by Parisa Khosravi, senior vice president of Global Relations for CNN Worldwide. As CNN’s first ambassador, she is responsible for leading their key international editorial relationships, coverage and securing access for their journalists around the world, states the Congress website www.nazc2014.org During her nearly 30-year association with CNN she has "played a vital role in the network’s award winning reporting on some of the most significant international stories of our time” like the first Gulf War, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the end of apartheid in South Africa and the hotel terror attack in Bombay.
The Congress, hosted by the Zoroastrian Association of California (ZAC) in coordination with the California Zoroastrian Center (CZC), with its theme being "Faith and Unity,” has other interesting programs lined up too. Prof Daniel Sheffield’s talk on "Living the Good Religion among Others: Cosmopolitan Zoroastrian Thought from the Middle Ages to Modernity” will constitute The Khorshed F. Jungalwala Memorial Lecture at the Congress. Holding a PhD in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from Harvard University he specialized in Iranian and Persian Studies, and currently teaches at Princeton University where he offers courses on Zoroastrianism and related subjects. In his talk Sheffield will "delve into the universe of medieval Zoroastrian thought written in Persian (Farsi), Sanskrit and Gujarati to discover the intellectual spaces that Zoroastrians shared” with their coreligionists. He will also examine how language and education influence interpretation of one’s faith and the world view.

Scene from the Shahnameh

Dr Yuhan Vevaina who had delivered the Jungalwala Memorial Lecture at the last NAZC in 2012 will be speaking again this time, his subject being "Wisdom from the Ancients in the Age of the Moderns” to explore the relevance of the ancient faith in current times. Vevaina too holds a doctorate from the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University and is currently a lecturer in the Department of Religious Studies at Stanford University.
Offering insights into "Natural, Integrative and Functional Medicine” at the Congress will be a session on holistic health moderated by Dr Parmis Khatibi. The co-panelists at this session will be Dr Farhad Contractor who will cover breast cancer; Dr Nikan Khatibi who will speak on five habits that can change one’s life; Dr Ali Makki on migraines and pain prevention; Dr Cyrus Mody on neurological issues like Alzheimer’s; Dr Freny Mody on cardiology; and Dr Namiranian on dental health.
Healthy vegetarian living will be the key concern of Dr Armaiti May, a veterinarian, who will discuss "why vegetarianism and Zoroastrianism go hand in hand during all months of the year, including the human health and environmental effects of our dietary choices.” An animal activist, she hosts an internet radio show entitled "Animal Issues with Dr Armaiti May” which has podcasts archived at www.veganvet.net
"Zoroaster’s Vision of Environmental Preservation and its Relevance Today: Earth, Water, Fire and Wind” will be the subject of Dr Soroosh Sorooshian’s green economy discussion. He is a professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth System Science Departments and director of the Center for Hydrometeorology and Remote Sensing at the University of California, Irvine. Recipient of a string of awards, in 2014 Sorooshian was conferred the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Einstein Professor honor.

"Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh,” an exhibition curated by Silloo Mehta will include hand crafted three dimensional models, exhibits from Iran, paintings and pictures. Commentary by dedicated students of this great work will bring to life the legends of the Shahnameh at the exhibition. In addition, Shahnameh enthusiasts will enjoy hearing Shahin Nezhad’s presentation entitled "Shahnameh: Myth or Fact?” as also a unique presentation by Afshin Sephari and his eight-year old daughter, Nusha, the producers of an audio book called The Stories of the Shahnameh, who will regale audiences with recitation of the timeless poetry in Farsi and English.
Entertainment at the Congress has been assured by the Z Band from Houston that includes Navaz Kayani, Ziba Colah, Farrokh Firozgary and Ashdin Medhora. The Persian Night at the Congress features a performance by Mima Goodarz and her troupe who will share their love for Persian music and dance as also a production, "Women of Persia,” performed by the youth of the California Zoroastrian Center.